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Special Collections and Archives

Special Collections and Archives

KSU Libraries and Media Services May 4 Chronology

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Chronology, May 1-4, 1970

May 1

On Friday, May 1, students organized a demonstration to protest the invasion
of Cambodia. A copy of the Constitution was buried to
symbolize its "murder." A second meeting was called for noon, Monday,
May 4.

On Friday evening, warm weather, drinking and indignation over the invasion
of Cambodia resulted in a crowd which moved toward the center of town breaking
some windows. Police met and dispersed the crowd at the intersection of Main and
Water streets. The Kent city mayor viewed the scene, heard rumors of a radical
plot, declared a state of emergency and telephoned the governor in
Columbus for assistance. A National Guard officer was immediately dispatched.
Bars were closed by local authorities and hundreds of people were forced into
the streets and herded toward the campus with tear gas from riot-geared police.
The town was quiet by 2:30 a.m.

May 2

On Saturday, students assisted with the downtown cleanup. Rumors concerning
radical activities were widespread and threats to merchants confirmed the fears
of some townspeople. University officials obtained an injunction prohibiting
damage to buildings on campus. Notice of this injunction appeared in leaflets
distributed by the Office of Student Affairs.

Shortly after 8:00 p.m., over one thousand persons surrounded the barracks
housing the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps on campus and a few managed to
set the building afire. Firemen left the scene after
hoses were punctured and cut open, unable to extinguish the blaze. By midnight,
the National Guard cleared the campus, forcing students and non-students into
dormitories, where many spent the night.

May 3

On Sunday there was a deceptively calm city and campus, occupied by
National Guardsmen. Meetings produced a number of
conflicting perceptions, resulting in misunderstandings among state, local and
University officials. A deluge of sightseers added to the problems. Near dusk, a
crowd gathered on the Commons at the Victory Bell (a bell ordinarily rung after
athletic victories). The crowd failed to disperse. At 9:00 p.m., the
Ohio Riot Act was read and tear gas was fired.

The demonstrators reassembled at the intersection of East Main and Lincoln
streets, blocking traffic. They believed that officials would speak to them, but
no one arrived. The crowd became hostile and at 11:00 p.m. the Riot Act was read
again, tear gas was used and a number of people -- guardsmen and demonstrators
-- were injured in the confusion.

The confrontation of Sunday night caused antagonism and resentment among all
parties. Classes resumed on Monday. Demonstrators were determined to hold the
rally at noon, even if prohibited. The National Guard resolved to disperse any
assembly.

May 4

By noon May 4, two thousand people had gathered in the vicinity of the
Commons. Many knew that the rally had been banned. Others, especially commuters,
did not know of this prohibition. Chants, curses and rocks answered an order to
disperse. Shortly after noon, tear gas canisters
were fired. The gas, blowing in the wind, had little effect. The guard moved
forward with fixed bayonets, forcing demonstrators to retreat. Reaching the
crest of the hill by Taylor Hall, the guard moved the demonstrators even farther
to a nearby athletic practice field. Once on the practice field, the guard
recognized that the crowd had not dispersed and that the field was
fenced on three sides. Tear gas was traded for more rocks and verbal abuse.

The guardsmen then retraced their line of march. Some demonstrators followed
as close as 20 yards, but most were between 60 and 75 yards behind the guard.
Near the crest of Blanket Hill, the guard turned and 28 guardsmen fired between
61 and 67 shots in 13 seconds toward the parking lot. Four persons lay dying and
nine wounded. The closest casualty was 20 yards and the farthest was almost 250
yards away. All 13 were students at Kent State University. The four students who
were killed were Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder and Sandra
Scheuer. The nine wounded students were Joseph Lewis, John Cleary, Thomas Grace,
Alan Canfora, Dean Kahler, Douglas Wrentmore, James Russell, Robert Stamps, and
Donald MacKenzie. Dean Kahler was permanently paralyzed from his injury.

Disbelief, fright and attempts at first aid gave
way quickly to anger. A group of two hundred to three hundred demonstrators
gathered on a slope nearby and were ordered to move. Faculty
members were able to convince the group to disperse.

A University ambulance moved through the campus making the following
announcement over a public address system: "By order of President White,
the University is closed. Students should pack their things and leave the campus
as quickly as possible." Late that afternoon, the county prosecutor
obtained an injunction closing the University indefinitely. Normal campus
activities did not resume until the summer session.

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